Vehicle-wheel.



No. 779,807. PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

W. H. SGHOPIELD.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.16. 1903. RENEWED DEC. 9, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PI/I/Illlllllllll PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

W. H. SUHOFIELD.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV.16. 1903. RENEWED DEG.9,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET zj jiga' I UNITED STATES Patented January 10, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

VEHlCLE-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,807, dated January10, 1905.

Application filed November 16, 1903. Renewed December 9, 1904. SerialNo. 236,256.

' T 0 all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. SoHoFIELD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVehicle-VVheels,of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to vehicle-wheels; and the object of. my inventionis to provide certain specific improvements in wheels of the compressiontype in which the spokes are subjected to longitudinal compression inassembling the wheel, this compression being effected by means of nutswhich are placed on the spokes against the inner side of the felly andforced outwardly against the same; and

-my invention consists in the use of such nuts in themselves and incombination with other novel devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts, Figure l is a partly-sectional elevation of a wheelprovided with my improvements, a few of the spokes being shown as ribbedand the remainder as round or elliptical in section. Fig. 2 is a sectionof the wheel on line II II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of aportion of one of the hub-rings. Fig. 1 is a section on line IV IV ofFig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of a ribbed spoke, itscompression-nut, a section of the rim, and jam-nut. Fig. 6 is atransverse section of a ribbed spoke and the sleeve of itscompression-nut before the crimping of the latter, and Fig. 7 is asimilar section taken after that operation. Fig. 8 isan enlarged detailview showing padded or cushioned spoke-saddles; and Fig. 9 is anopposite View of the same parts, showing two spokes in section. Fig. 10illustrates a divided sleeve otherwise similar to that shown in Fig. 8;and Fig. 11 is a section on line XI XI, showing a square bolt or rivetpassing through the sleeve.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the outer shell ofthe hub is preferabl'y composed of lateral (or end) members 1 1, betweenthe outer edges of which is held a spacing-ring 2, through which extendthe pin type and pass around the curved inner faces of the saddles 9.Said faces may be provided with pads or blocks, as 9, of cushioningmaterial, as rubber or the like, (see Figs. 2 and 8;) but such pads orcushions may be dispensed with in a wheel of this type, in which thespokes are normally under longitudinal compression. To form resilientbearings for the inner ends or bent portions of the spokes, I provideone or more resilient rings 12, which are of the type shown in andcovered by my Letters Patent No. 697,950, of April 15, 1902. In case tworings are employed I form in each ring a plurality of equally-spaceddepressions 13, which are preferably formed by pressing 0r swaging themetal inwardly, thereby forming interior projections 14, correspondingto the depressions. The spokes being seated in these depressions, therings are held in position concentrically by the saddles 9 on theirsleeves 7 which are in turn prevented from slipping laterally by thecontact of the hub-shells 1 1, as shown in Fig. 2.

In shop practice it was formerly impossible to head rivets or upsetbolts 5 in my hub construction without bending some of the bolts orrivets. This was because my sleeve 7 had not been employed nor eventhought of at that time. These sleeves by closely embracing the bolts orrivets effectually prevent any bending of the latter, and also by havingtheir ends in contact with the hub-shells they prevent any buckling-orbending of said shells when the rivets are headed or the bolts upset, asthe case may be.

In Fig. 2 is shown a skein or spindle box 28, which in order to adapt itfor connection to my improved hub is provided at the inner end with aflange 24, which bears against the inner hub-shell 1, and upon its outerend with a screwed ring or collar 25, which is run up snugly against theouter hub-shell and there secured in any suitable manner.

The spokes are strained inwardly against the rings 12 by means of nuts,the preferred form of which is shown in Figs. 1, 2, and and marked 15.In section the spokes may be of any preferred form. I prefer a ribbedspoke, as 4: in Fig. 1, or an elliptical spoke, as 3 in Figs. 1 and 2.The nuts after being sufficiently tightened against the felly may becrimped in around the spokes, as shown in Figs. 1, 5, and 7, therebyenhancing the appearance of said nuts and, what is more important,effectually locking them in their adjusted positions, whereby theycannot be' jarred loose nor tampered with by the use of a wrench. InFig. 5 the compression-nut 15 is shown as provided With an extension 16,which serves to protect the threads of the spoke from the edges of thehole in the steel felly. The outer nuts 17 (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) areor may be employed in order to resist any occasional tendency to pull aspoke inwardly through the felly due to extraordinary shock to thewheel. Cushions or pads, as 18 or 18, may be placed between these nutsand the felly, and spring-washers 19 or other washers may be employed,if so desired, in case the cushioning material be soft and yielding.

The spacing-sleeves which carry the saddles 10 may be divided, as shownin Fig. 10,

and mounted on either a round or a square bolt. 8 8 indicate the twoparts of a divided sleeve. In Fig. 11 a square bolt or rivet 6 is shown.desirable to employ divided sleeves, and still maintain torsionalconnection between the spoke-saddles 10.

I claim as a feature of my invention the form of tire shown in Figs. 1,2, and 5. The peculiarity of this tire consists in its twoinwardly-directed flanges 22, and its superiority is due to the factthat it obviates the use of bolts or clips, which are now employed forsecuring ordinary steel tires to the fellies. In Fig. 5, 20 is a metalrim or felly of a form especially adapted to receive this flangedtire.In order to place this tire upon the rim, the tire is first expanded byheating it sufijcientl y to permit of its being slipped over or upon thefelly, and in cooling it shrinks upon the felly, tightly fitting thesame when cold, as shown. Thus it will be readily understood that nobolts or clips are needed.

In the claims by the term saddles or spoke-saddles I mean to cover mydevices for engaging the bent portions of the spokes and all equivalentsthereof. By the word inner .as referring to the felly or nuts upon thespokes I mean the side nearest the hub, and by the word outer asreferring to said parts I mean the side nearest the tire. The

This may be employed, if it be found concavity of the felly beingdirected outwardl y, the said words might be otherwise misunderstood. Bythe term bolts in the claims I mean to include rivets and equivalentmeans having the same function.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vehicle-Wheel the combination of hair-pin spokes, spoke-saddlesfor the bent parts of the spokes, an inner hubring having seats thereinto receive the bent portions of the spokes, and nuts arranged upon thespokes and bearing against the inner face of the felly; substantially asdescribed.

2. In a vehicle-wheel the combination of hair-pin spokes, an innerhubring having spaced spoke-seats therein, bolts 5, spokesaddles mountedupon said bolts, hub-shells which sustain said bolts and are connectedthereby, and nuts arranged upon the spokes and bearing upon the innerface of the felly; substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a spoke the main portion of which isnon-circular in section, the end portion of which is rounded andthreaded, of a nut having an unthreaded sleeve portion; the said portionbeing adapted to be crimped around the end of the non-circular portionof the spoke, and the head of the nut being adapted to engage thethreaded portion of the spoke and bear against the inner face of thefelly; substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a felly having a spokehole therethrough, and aspoke the main portion of which is non-circular in section. the end ofwhich is rounded and threaded, of a nut having an unthreaded sleeveportion, the head of said nut being adapted to engage the threadedportion of the spoke, and the sleeve portion of the nut being adapted tobe crimped around the end of the non-circular portion of the spoke;substantially as described.

5. Ina wheel-hub, apairof hub-shells, bolts connecting the same, andsleeves mounted thereon, said sleeves being provided with means formedthereon and constructed to engage the spokes; substantially asdescribed.

6. In a wheel-hub, a pair of hub-shells, bolts connecting the same, andsleeves mounted thereon, said sleeves being provided withcounterbalancing-saddles extending on either side of the sleeves;substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

VILLIAM H. SCHOFIELD.

WVitnesses:

K. M. IMBoDEN, CHARLES 1. COBB.

